They recorded back-to-back away victories with an eight-wicket win at Warenford after their opening-day six-wicket success at Wooler. Tillside were the league's inaugural champions in 1889 and bridged a gap of 118 years when taking the title last season, though they were B Division champions on three occasions in the halcyon days when there were two divisions and twice today's number of teams.

Warenford collapsed to 111 all out after a reasonably good start, Alan Hindmarsh cleaning up with figures of six for six.

A Reed and M McCreath hit 44 apiece as Tillside knocked off the required runs for the loss of two wickets.

Warkworth endured an even bigger collapse at Kelso where they were skittled for a paltry 35 in reply to the home total of 204 for six, N Dagg and S Robson both scoring half-centuries.

Shilbottle welcomed back brothers Dave and Marty Gray after some years out of the game and each claimed three wickets as Rock were dismissed for 151. The visitors reached their target for the loss of only two wickets with Alan Straker (91) and Kevin Wilson (40) the chief run-makers.

After losing their opening game to the weather, Howick began their campaign at The Wicket against Alnmouth and Lesbury and won a close contest by 18 runs.

Robert Jamieson Jnr top-scored with 67 in Howick's total of 201 for eight and then claimed four for 34 as the home side replied with 183. Joe Courtney (68) and Darren Gray (51) got the bulk of the home runs.

Wooler's Kevin Atkinson was the man of the match against visitors Embleton. He took five for 20 in the Embleton innings of 108 for eight and went on to score 55 not out as Wooler raced to a nine-wicket win.

In the remaining match, Berwick cruised to a 51-run home victory over Mitford thanks mainly to scores of 47 and 36 respectively from Tim McCreath and Ian Thompson.


Scores in brief:-

Howick 201-8 (R Jamieson jun 67, C Dury 39, F Strang 35, S Poole 3-51) Alnmouth and Lesbury 183 (J Courtney 68, D Gray 51, R Jamieson jun 4-34, R Jamieson sen 3-41).

Rock 151 (R Bell 45, D Gray 3-46, M Gray 3-39) Shilbottle 152-2 (A Straker 91, K Wilson 40).

Embleton 108-8 (R Turnbull 50, M McLean 3-26, K Atkinson 5-20) Wooler 110-1 (K Atkinson 55no).

Warenford 111 (I Rogerson 28, B Thompson 38, A Hindmarsh 6-6) Tillside 112-2 (A Reed 44no., M McCreath 44).

Kelso 204-6 (N Dagg 50, S Robson 50) Warkworth 35 (J Mortar 4-7).

Berwick 153-4 (T McCreath 47, I Thompson 36) Mitford 102 (M Ellinor 33, B Simmons 5-13).